Breast prosthesis and brassiere for same

ABSTRACT

A brassiere is provided with two cups, one or both of which is filled with an integral, artificial breast. Each of such artificial breasts contains a substantially conical outer surface of foamed polyester material, filled with chips of foamed rubber substance to approximate the size and elasticity of the natural breast, and a back panel of flat material covering the base of the conical form. A number of flat leaden weights are attached to the inner surface of the back panel to bring the weight of the artificial breast to that of the portion of the wearer&#39;&#39;s body it replaces; the artificial breast is permanently attached to the inside of the appropriate cup of the brassiere.

: 1 it 11 t States atet 1 1 1 1 3,795,921

Zucker 7 an. 12, 1974 BREAST PROSTHESIS AND BRASSIERE FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS FOR SAME 1,000,711 8/1965 Great Britain 3/36 3,447,5386/l969 1 (eown ..3/36 XR [76] lnventor: Samuel Zucker, 58 l-HungryHarbor Rd, North Woodmere, L I NY Primary ExammerRIchard A. GaudetAssistant Examiner-Ronald L. Frinks Attorney, Agent, or FirmLilling &Seigel [22] Filed: June 21', 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 155,135 I '[57]ABSTRACT A brassiere is provided with two cups, one or both of [52]11.8. Cl.... 3/36, 128/479 hi h i fill d with an integral, artificialbreast. Each A611? 10 of such artificial breasts contains asubstantially coni- [58] Field of Search 3/36; Outer surface f foamedpolyester material, filled 28/462464 478-481; 2/267 with chips of foamedrubber substance to approximate the size and elasticity of the naturalbreast, and a back [56] References C'ted panel of flat material coveringthe base of the conical UNITED STATES PATENTS I form. A number of flatleaden weights are attached to 2,953,133 9/1960 Seller 3/36 x the innerSurface Ofthe back panel bring the Weight 3 3 UX of the artificialbreast to that of the portion of the 2,435,360 2/1948 Wilkenfeld -128/41 wearers body it replaces; the artificial breast is per- 2,851,692 1953Livingston 1 ..3/36 XR manently attached to the inside of theappropriate cup Mann of the brassiere 3,114,374 12/1963 Chalfin et a1.

PATENTEU 1 I 3.795.921

' sum 1 or 2 INVENTOR. SAMUEL ZUC KER PAIENIEnuAR 1 21914 SHEEI 2 UF 2INVENTOR. SAMUEL ZUCKER BREAST PROSTHESIS AND BRASSIERIE FOR SAMEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to prostheticdevices whose purpose is the simulation of the natural bust form of thefemale figure in the absence of one, or both, of the mammary glands.This requirement may arise as a result of some birth defect ormalformation, or, more frequently, as a result of the operation known asmastectomy.

The need and desire of the average woman for support, shaping, andenhancement of the appearance of her breasts has created a large art inthe design and manufacture of brassieres of many types; the regrettablyhigh incidence of breast cancer, in many instances cured by the removalof one or both breasts, has also called forth a number of designs andinventions for pads whose shape would mimic the natural form and thusenable the wearer to appear in public without betraying the unsightlyand embarrassing absence of a breast.

Many pads of the prior art are specifically tailored to a particularbody, most are inserted into conventional It is a further object of theinvention to utilize materials and methods of construction permittingthe laundering of such a garment in ordinary household water solutionsof soap or detergent chemicals.

It is a, still further object of the'invention to provide breast padswhose shape, size, weight and firmness approximate these qualities ofthe natural member so closely that the wearer experiences no discomfortor feeling of unbalance, or a beholder detect any sign that the wearersbustline is in some sense unbalanced or artificial.

It is also an object of the invention to describe the aforementionedgarments and pads, in combinations corresponding to the commerciallyconventional brassieres in sizing and other attributes, as articles ofcommerce whose manufacture and distribution provides considerableeconomic advantages over the designs of the prior art.

SUMMARY According to the present invention, there is provided abrassiere with a torso-encircling band whose apposite ends are providedwith mating parts of a clamp. A pair of bust cups, sized and shaped toenclose and support the breasts of the wearer here assuming the presenceof a normal female torso are attached to the upper edge of the band andare provided with straps which, after passing over the shoulders, attachonce more to the same band.

In the cup corresponding to the missing breast a pad is installed. Thesize and shape of this pad is governed by the standardized sizes andshapes developed out of the experience of the foundation-garmentindustry, whereby it may be predicted that most women may be fitted witha brassiere by the definition of two numbers, the total circumference ofthe chest and the volume of one breast. The first of these is commonlyexpressed as a dimension in inches, while the second is referred to asthe cup size. Thus, brassieres are manufactured in such sizes as 34-8and 36-C and women, having once informed themselves of the appropriatecombination corresponding to their physical dimensions, may purchasesuch garments by reference to the standardized designations without theneed for individual fitting.

Each of these prosthetic pads is provided with outer and inner covers ofa foamed rubbery material, suitably urethane, polyurethane or polyester,a filling of granules of the same, or simlar, material, and a weightedpanel. The outer cover is shaped into a substantially conical formapproximating the shape of the natural breast; the inner cover is a flatmember overlaying the base of the cone. The weighted panel fits on theinternal surface of the inner cover and is provided with a number ofsmall weights whose sum equals the weight of the natural breastcorresponding to the particular pad size, less the weight of theremaining structure of the pad.

The pad assembly is made an integral part of the garment by beingstitched, or fastened by other means, into the corresponding bust cupand by the provision of a liner covering the inner surface of the padand attached to the circumference of the cup.

The function of the weighted panel described above is to provide thefeel and response of the missing member to the wearer and thus to removeany muscular strain which may be experienced due to the unsymmetricaldistribution of torso weight in the case of a onesided mastectomy. Afurther use of these weights lies in removing any unnatural motions ofthe wearer induced by such an unbalance and observable by an onlooker.

Such considerations are paramount in the provision of a prosthesis forthe female breast, since the primary function of such a substitutemember is the psychological re-assurance of the wearer that her behaviorand movements will not betray her condition, and thereby to allay herinhibitions and fears connected with normal intercourse with otherpersons who are not aware of her problem and should not be alerted toit.

The invention, and its preferred embodiment, are best described indetail with reference to the accompa= nying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a frontal, perspectivesketch of a prosthetic garment of the present invention, superimposed onthe out lines of a female upper body;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section of the garment of FIG. 1 and its integralbreast-pad, taken along line2-2;

FIG. 3 is an outline drawing of the outer cover of the breast-pad, priorto assembly;

FIG. 4 is a similar outline of the inner cover of the breast-pad;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the weighted panel of the breast-pad; and

FIG. 6 is a section through the panel of FIG. 5, taken along line 6-6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

FIG. 1 shows an upper female torso 100 in outline, over which a garment1 is draped and held fast by locking a clasp band 30 as is well known inthe art at the back of the body. The garment 1 forms a brassiere withtwo breast cups 23, each consisting of a lower cup-front 2 and an uppercup-front 3. In particular, a right breast cup 23a is composed of theelements 2a and 3a stitched to the corresponding components 2b and 3b onthe left side of the garment at a seam 70. An upper extension of theelement 3a is attached to a shoulder-strap 4a and the latter is, inturn, attached to a dorsal panel 6a stitched to the rightmost edge ofthe cup 23a. The shoulder-strap 4a, and its counterpart 4b on the leftside of the garment, are interrupted by adjustable claps a and 5b,thereby permitting the wearer to vary the location of the breast cupsrelative to her shoulder-line.

The components recited above present the appearance of a conventionalbrassiere and provide the outlines of a normal torso, even through, inthe present illustration, the wearer has been subjected to a mastectomyof the left breast and the removed body mass is mimicked by a breast padwhose structure is detailed in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a section through the garment 1 along line 2-2 of FIG. 1. Theexternally visible panels, such as lower cup-front 2b and uppercup-front 3b, are identical in shape and construction to thecorresponding elements 2a and 3a. Contiguous edges of the panels 2b and3b are joined to each other and to a breast-shaped cup 12 at thestitched seam 71; the cup 12 is manufactured from a layer of foamedplastic material polyurethane for example of sufficient stiffness toimpart to the overlaying panels 2b and 3b the outline ofa normal femalebreast. Inside the cup 12 a mass of elastic nodules 40 is disposed.These nodules may be chips, tufts 0r grains of some material, suitablyfoamed plastic or rubber, which may be readily compacted together to theconsistency and elasticity of the female breast, and are held inposition by a panel 14. The panel 14 is the foremost member of the rearwall assembly of the pad and has attached to it a number of weights,typically member 80, whose sum equals the weight of the breast theprosthesis replaces. These weights may be beads or platelets and take,preferentially, the form of lead buttons, readily attached to the panel14 by stitching, as at 82.

The buttons 80 are separated from the torso of the wearer by a liner 15and an inner cover 16 whose out lines coincide with that of the panel 14and which are further overlain by a facing-piece 17b, a portion of whichmay extends below the lower cup-front 2b. Seams 83 and 84 cooperate withseams 70 and 72 to edge the breast cup 23b and to hold the variouscomponents of the integral breast-pad in proper position relative to oneanother and to hold the elastic mass 40 captive inside the garment.

To ensure tight fit of the garment 1 at its lower edge, a stretchableband 17 is stitched to the lower edges of the several elements 6b, 17b,17a, and 6a in succession and encircles the torso upon the fastening ofthe clasp band 30.

In FIG. 3 a blank 120 is shown in plan. This blank is provided witharcuate edges 121 and 122 terminating in a cups 123; these edges beingso delineated that upon being brought into conjunction and heldtogether, by means of stitching or glueing the abutting sides, the shapeof the cup 12 results. Extension 124 of the blank narrows to the widthof the shoulder strap 4b to which it is ultimately attached.

FIG. 4 shows a blank whose outlines correspond to the base of thefinished cup 12, and which is utilized for the inner cover 16; the sameoutline serves to define the panel 14 and the liner 15.

It has been mentioned that weights 80 are utilized to approximate theweight of the missing breast, and to ease the physical discomfortattendant upon an unbalanced upper torso. It has also been noted thatthe breast-pad of the instant invention is readily adaptable to thediffering shapes and sizes of the commercially marketed foundationgarments.

As a brief illustration of the adaptability of the preferred embodimentheretofore described, the use of such weights 80, in the form ofplastic-coated lead buttons weighing three quarters of an ounce eachwill be demonstrated.

For the commonest cup-size in the brassiere art, commonly known as cupC, the weight of the average breast can be derived from the publishedliterature and is listed in Table I, along with the variouscircumferential measurements of the chest for which brassieres with thiscup-size are commonly made; the same table shows the number of weights80 which would serve to balance the prosthetic garment 1.

TABLE I Brassicre Weight of Number of Size Breast Lead Buttons (/4 oz.)

42 l I I4 It can be readily determined, by consulting Table I, that, fora breast-pad corresponding to brassiere size 36-C, ten lead buttons,aggregating 7% ounces, would be required; a possible arrangement ofapanel 140 with buttons is shown in FIG. 5 for this particular size.While the relative positioning of the buttons, or weights, 180 is tosome extent arbitrary, the approximation of the weight distribution, andnot merely of the total weight, of the natural member is a desirablequality in the finished garment and the triangular dispositionillustrated in FIG. 5 has been found to provide good results inpractice.

It can be readily appreciated that a prosthetic garment according to thepresent invention is readily manufactured in the conventional sizes ofbrassieres; with the additional distinguishing mark of having either theleft, the right or both cups filled with artificial breastpads; anddistributed in the ordinary channels of commerce with the assurance thata prospective wearer may purchase one off-the-shelf and wear it to thefullest satisfaction without the need for specific fitting.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the panel shown in FIG. 5, taken along theline 6-6, and shows a typical button 180 with its central cross-bar 89,the plastic coating 81, and the manner of attachement by seam 82 passingthrough the panel 140 and over the cross-bar 89.

The plastic coating 81 serves as a barrier to the oxidation of the leadmaterial of the button 180 in the hot acqueous solutions in which suchgarments are commonly laundered.

While the foregoing disclosure has detailed certain materials ofconstruction and details of manufacture, variations from the describedembodiment are considered to lie within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A mastectomy brassiere comprising a plurality of panels securedtogether to form a pair of bust cups and adapted to provide a supportingfoundation for the breasts of a woman, at least one soft, porous,machinewashable prosthetic pad permanently forming a part of one of saidbust cups; said pad comprising front and rear panel walls of a soft,flexible material secured together along their peripheries so as toconstruct a bust form, and a plurality of substantially flat and heavyweights immovably positioned in said bust form and means filling saidform comprising a plurality of chipped elastic material compactedtogether to substantially simulate the shape, size, weight and firmnessof a natural breast; said plurality of weights having a protectivecorrosion resistant coating and being secured to a panel fixedlyattached to the inside wall of said rear panel, and being arranged onsaid panel so as to distribute a weight totaling approximately theweight of the natural breast corresponding to the size of said pad so asto present a woman using said brassiere with a feeling of balance andsymmetry with respect thereto.

2. The brassiere according to claim 1, wherein said weights comprisemetallic button elements sewed to said panel.

3. The brassiere according to claim 2, wherein said button elements aremade of lead.

4. The brassiere according to claim ll, wherein said chipped elasticmaterial comprises a foamed plastic material.

5. The brassiere according to claim 2, wherein each of said buttonelements weight about three-fourths ounce and'are coated with a plastic.

6. The brassiere according to claim 2, wherein said button elements arecircular in shape.

7. A prosthetic pad or mastectomy form for use in restoring the normaloutline of a female upper torso, comprising: a soft, porous,machine-washable prosthetic pad having hollow, flexible cup means offoamed plastic material, whose external outline approximates the shapeof a natural breast, filling means of granulated foamed material in saidhollow cup means; flexible base means of foamed material, whose outlinecorresponds to the projection of the base of said cup means, beingsecured thereto; a plurality of substantially flat and heavy weightshaving a protective corrosion resistant coating secured to and arrangedon one side of said base means so as to be immovably positioned, forsimulating the weight of a natural breast; said weights being arrangedso as to distribute a weight totaling approximately the weight of thenatural breast corresponding to the size of said pad; cover means,similar in material and outline to said base means, attached thereto;said base means, cup means and cover means being secured together andforming a pocket between said cup means and said base means for theentrapment of said filling means and also forming a second pocketbetween said base means and said cover means for the reception of saidweight means; thereby forming an arch-shaped pad having the outlines,weight and stiffness corresponding substantially to the samecharacteristics of the natural breast.

8. The prosthetic pad according to claim 7, wherein said weightscomprise metallic button elements sewed to said base means.

9. The prosthetic pad according to claim 8, wherein said button elementsare made of lead.

10. The prosthetic pad according to claim 8, wherein said buttonelements are circular in shape and are coated with a plastic.

=l l= l

1. A mastectomy brassiere comprising a plurality of panels securedtogether to form a pair of bust cups and adapted to provide a supportingfoundation for the breasts of a woman, at least one soft, porous,machine-washable prosthetic pad permanently forming a part of one ofsaid bust cups; said pad comprising front and rear panel walls of asoft, flexible material secured together along their peripheries so asto construct a bust form, and a plurality of substantially flat andheavy weights immovably positioned in said bust form and means fillingsaid form comprising a plurality of chipped elastic material compactedtogether to substantially simulate the shape, size, weight and firmnessof a natural breast; said plurality of weights having a protectivecorrosion resistant coating and being secured to a panel fixedlyattached to the inside wall of said rear panel, and being arranged onsaid panel so as to distribute a weight totaling approximately theweight of the natural breast corresponding to the size of said pad so asto present a woman using said brassiere with a feeling of balance andsymmetry with respect thereto.
 2. The brassiere according to claim 1,wherein said weights comprise metallic button elements sewed to saidpanel.
 3. The brassiere accordiNg to claim 2, wherein said buttonelements are made of lead.
 4. The brassiere according to claim 1,wherein said chipped elastic material comprises a foamed plasticmaterial.
 5. The brassiere according to claim 2, wherein each of saidbutton elements weight about three-fourths ounce and are coated with aplastic.
 6. The brassiere according to claim 2, wherein said buttonelements are circular in shape.
 7. A prosthetic pad or mastectomy formfor use in restoring the normal outline of a female upper torso,comprising: a soft, porous, machine-washable prosthetic pad havinghollow, flexible cup means of foamed plastic material, whose externaloutline approximates the shape of a natural breast, filling means ofgranulated foamed material in said hollow cup means; flexible base meansof foamed material, whose outline corresponds to the projection of thebase of said cup means, being secured thereto; a plurality ofsubstantially flat and heavy weights having a protective corrosionresistant coating secured to and arranged on one side of said base meansso as to be immovably positioned, for simulating the weight of a naturalbreast; said weights being arranged so as to distribute a weighttotaling approximately the weight of the natural breast corresponding tothe size of said pad; cover means, similar in material and outline tosaid base means, attached thereto; said base means, cup means and covermeans being secured together and forming a pocket between said cup meansand said base means for the entrapment of said filling means and alsoforming a second pocket between said base means and said cover means forthe reception of said weight means; thereby forming an arch-shaped padhaving the outlines, weight and stiffness corresponding substantially tothe same characteristics of the natural breast.
 8. The prosthetic padaccording to claim 7, wherein said weights comprise metallic buttonelements sewed to said base means.
 9. The prosthetic pad according toclaim 8, wherein said button elements are made of lead.
 10. Theprosthetic pad according to claim 8, wherein said button elements arecircular in shape and are coated with a plastic.